England A coaches named for November
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England A coaches named for November
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) can today confirm the coaching staff for England Men’s A November fixtures against All Blacks XV and Spain.
England A will look to continue their unbeaten run since the team’s return in 2023 against the All Blacks XV on Saturday 8th November at The Recreation Ground, then resuming their schedule away to Spain on Saturday 15th November at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla, Valladolid (16:00 GMT).
Of those that represented the A side in the 2024/25 season, Henry Pollock, Cadan Murley and Asher Opoku-Fordjour were amongst the 10 players that went on to earn their senior men’s debut for England. Former England A head coach Lee Blackett has also progressed to Steve Borthwick's senior men's coaching staff.
Following on from his appointment as England Rugby’s Head of Men’s Player Pathways, Mark Mapletoft assumes the head coach title for the development side for the second time after a 38-17 victory over Australia A in 2024.
Gloucester Rugby’s James Lightfoot Brown is named as attack coach against the All Blacks XV having joined the Cherry and Whites from London Irish in 2023. The 31-year-old previously represented England at U18 and Sevens level before becoming a consultant coach for the U18 Men in 2019.
After his arrival at Harlequins this summer, Matt Ferguson will take the lead on scrum coaching duties for the fixture at The Recreation Ground in November. Ferguson was involved with the Men’s A set-up earlier this year in a 28-12 victory over Ireland A at Ashton Gate Stadium.
Adam Powell (Saracens) and James Craig (Northampton Saints) are named defence coach and forwards coach, respectively. Both will be involved against the All Blacks XV side and Spain in Valladolid, with recent Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 winner, Nathan Catt, stepping into the role of scrum coach against Los Leones.
Fresh from signing a new deal at Saracens, one-time England Saxon Powell links up with the coaching staff after initially joining the north Londoners’ academy staff from Newcastle Red Bulls. Craig, a two-time league winner with Saints as a player and coach, toured with England Saxons to South Africa in 2016 and progressed from Northampton’s academy to senior coaching set-up.
“It’s a great honour to be accompanied by some of the most exciting coaching talent in the Gallagher PREM ahead of our opening games of the 2025/26 season,” said Mark Mapletoft.
“Following extensive consultation with Steve [Borthwick] and Conor [O’Shea] alongside PREM Rugby, we believe we have assembled a team that will drive forward the A side into a new campaign with fresh ideas against testing opposition.
“We want to continue to provide a platform for young players to grow the rose and measure themselves against international-calibre sides, bridging the gap into the senior environment.”
Wider squad information for England Men’s A fixtures against All Blacks XV and Spain will be communicated later this month.
England Men’s A coaching staff for All Blacks XV fixture
Head Coach – Mark Mapletoft (England Rugby)
Attack Coach - James Lightfoot Brown (Gloucester Rugby)
Defence Coach - Adam Powell (Saracens)
Forwards Coach - James Craig (Northampton Saints)
Scrum Coach - Matt Ferguson (Harlequins)
England Men’s A coaching staff for Spain fixture
Head Coach and Attack Coach - Mark Mapletoft (England Rugby)
Defence Coach - Adam Powell (Saracens)
Forwards Coach - James Craig (Northampton Saints)
Scrum Coach – Nathan Catt (England Rugby)
England Men’s A confirmed 2025/26 fixtures
Saturday 8th November 2025 – England A vs. All Blacks XV – The Recreation Ground, Bath, 13:15 GMT kick-off
Saturday 15th November 2025 – Spain vs. England A – Estadio Jose Zorrilla, Valladolid, 16:00 GMT kick-off
England A will look to continue their unbeaten run since the team’s return in 2023 against the All Blacks XV on Saturday 8th November at The Recreation Ground, then resuming their schedule away to Spain on Saturday 15th November at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla, Valladolid (16:00 GMT).
Of those that represented the A side in the 2024/25 season, Henry Pollock, Cadan Murley and Asher Opoku-Fordjour were amongst the 10 players that went on to earn their senior men’s debut for England. Former England A head coach Lee Blackett has also progressed to Steve Borthwick's senior men's coaching staff.
Following on from his appointment as England Rugby’s Head of Men’s Player Pathways, Mark Mapletoft assumes the head coach title for the development side for the second time after a 38-17 victory over Australia A in 2024.
Gloucester Rugby’s James Lightfoot Brown is named as attack coach against the All Blacks XV having joined the Cherry and Whites from London Irish in 2023. The 31-year-old previously represented England at U18 and Sevens level before becoming a consultant coach for the U18 Men in 2019.
After his arrival at Harlequins this summer, Matt Ferguson will take the lead on scrum coaching duties for the fixture at The Recreation Ground in November. Ferguson was involved with the Men’s A set-up earlier this year in a 28-12 victory over Ireland A at Ashton Gate Stadium.
Adam Powell (Saracens) and James Craig (Northampton Saints) are named defence coach and forwards coach, respectively. Both will be involved against the All Blacks XV side and Spain in Valladolid, with recent Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 winner, Nathan Catt, stepping into the role of scrum coach against Los Leones.
Fresh from signing a new deal at Saracens, one-time England Saxon Powell links up with the coaching staff after initially joining the north Londoners’ academy staff from Newcastle Red Bulls. Craig, a two-time league winner with Saints as a player and coach, toured with England Saxons to South Africa in 2016 and progressed from Northampton’s academy to senior coaching set-up.
“It’s a great honour to be accompanied by some of the most exciting coaching talent in the Gallagher PREM ahead of our opening games of the 2025/26 season,” said Mark Mapletoft.
“Following extensive consultation with Steve [Borthwick] and Conor [O’Shea] alongside PREM Rugby, we believe we have assembled a team that will drive forward the A side into a new campaign with fresh ideas against testing opposition.
“We want to continue to provide a platform for young players to grow the rose and measure themselves against international-calibre sides, bridging the gap into the senior environment.”
Wider squad information for England Men’s A fixtures against All Blacks XV and Spain will be communicated later this month.
England Men’s A coaching staff for All Blacks XV fixture
Head Coach – Mark Mapletoft (England Rugby)
Attack Coach - James Lightfoot Brown (Gloucester Rugby)
Defence Coach - Adam Powell (Saracens)
Forwards Coach - James Craig (Northampton Saints)
Scrum Coach - Matt Ferguson (Harlequins)
England Men’s A coaching staff for Spain fixture
Head Coach and Attack Coach - Mark Mapletoft (England Rugby)
Defence Coach - Adam Powell (Saracens)
Forwards Coach - James Craig (Northampton Saints)
Scrum Coach – Nathan Catt (England Rugby)
England Men’s A confirmed 2025/26 fixtures
Saturday 8th November 2025 – England A vs. All Blacks XV – The Recreation Ground, Bath, 13:15 GMT kick-off
Saturday 15th November 2025 – Spain vs. England A – Estadio Jose Zorrilla, Valladolid, 16:00 GMT kick-off
